Fall!

Last week Patrick and I took a little trip to Helen to see the leaves... they were just starting to turn... and they were a great reminder from God about the changing seasons in our lives...

Speaking of new seasons... Patrick and I are now the proud Aunt and Uncle of TWO nieces!!  We are so excited!  We can't wait to meet the newest Hearn!!

Savings!

Just last week I was thinking... I really need to update my blog more... then last week happened, I missed my wedding post and Foodie Friday... so needless to say I feel behind!  This week I am going to do my very best to post each day.  It may just be a picture post... but I feel like I need to get into a better grove.

I decided that I was going to try the "coupon game" this week.  I always see these girls that save so much money with them... so I was intrigued.  I have been saving the coupons from the paper, so today I took the plunge!  I went to both Publix and CVS... but I did much better at Publix.  This is by no means all the groceries we will need all week, but all of the things I bought we will use at some point in the next few weeks.

Here is what I got...

-2 packages Eight O'Clock Coffee -Normally $5.69 each, On Sale B1G1 Free, had a $2/2 coupon -Total $3.69 for both

-1 box Cheerios Crunch -Normally $3.99, On sale B1G1 Free, had a $.75 coupon -Total $1.25

-2 cans Chuncky Soup- Normally $2.39 each, On sale for $1.29, had a $.50 coupon (which doubled) -Total $1.58 for both

-1 bag Chex Mix- Normally $2.50, On sale 3 for $5, had a $.50 coupon -Total $1.17

-1 can Pillsbury Pizza Crust- Normally $2.50, On sale 3 for $5, had a $.50 coupon -Total $1.17 (the cashier charged me twice... I didn't notice until I got home)

-1 Coffeemate Creamer (the big one) -Normally $3.39, On sale 2 for $5, had $1.50 coupon -Total $1

-3 boxes Kleenex -Normally $1.97, On sale 4 for $5, had $.50 off 3 coupon Total- $3.25 for all three

-1 Marie Callender frozen dinner -Normally $3.49, On sale B1G1, had a $1 coupon -Total $.75

So for $37.51 worth of groceries... I paid, $13.87 for a savings of 63%... even with being charged twice for the crust.

Not too shabby for a first timer... hopefully I will improve as the weeks go on... do you have any secrets?  I would love to hear them!        

Foodie Friday: Shrimp Pasta

This is the continuation of my Pioneer Woman dinner from a few weeks ago.  I decided when I was planning my parents birthday dinner that I would try three new recipes... I often stick to what I know when I cook... so this was going out on a limb for me.  A few weeks ago I shared the Rosemary Rolls... this week Shrimp Pasta in a foil package.  It was great... and pretty easy... and it tasted really good!

Once again... this is a Pioneer Woman recipe... I am going to post my before and after pictures and the steps... but if you want a true step by step in pictures... visit her blog here.

Shrimp Pasta in a Foil Package
by The Pioneer Woman

Do you notice something is missing... they were in the refrigerator... ooops!  Shrimp!

-1/2 cup olive oil
-4 cloves garlic, minced
-3 cans diced or whole tomatoes, 14.5oz each
-1/2 cup white wine, I used cooking wine
-2 lbs shrimp, peeled and devained
-Fresh Parsley
-1 lb (1box) linguine... I used angel hair because I had it in my pantry

Cook pasta for 1/2 the recommended cooking time. Pasta should still be very firm.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for a minute. Dump in the tomatoes and wine. Stir the mixture together, season with salt and pepper, and allow to cook for ten minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare a large parcel of heavy duty aluminum foil. It should be large enough to hold the entire pasta dish. **Make it larger than you think you could possibly ever need... this is the only place where I had a problem... mine was a bit too small...*

Throw the shrimp on the top of the pasta sauce. Throw the drained pasta over the top, then pour the whole dish onto the foil. Tightly wrap the foil into a parcel.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and keep warm until serving.

Open the foil parcel right before serving. Drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil over the top. Squeeze on lemon juice, if desired.

This was very good... and it had a ton of shrimp!  We really enjoyed it!  We actually ate it for two meals!

Hollywood!

Disney's Hollywood Studios that is... We spent our second day at Disney at this park.  It rained off and on all day... so the pictures are a little sparse... and in some of them we look pretty rough... but we had a great time... so that is all that really matters!

This is in front of our first ride... The StarWars ride... a classic!

Then it was off to the Muppets in 3-D... aren't my glasses stylish??

Patrick even took me to see the Beauty and the Beast show!  It was wonderful!  I love the movie and the show was even better!  It was just like I remembered it when I was younger!

For dinner, we ate in the park at the Sci Fi Cafe.  It is a really fun place to eat.  You sit in "antique cars" that are lined up like you are at the drive-in... there are even some Sci Fi clips playing on the big screen!

We tried to get several pictures in front of the big hat... this is the best we had...

We ended our night with Fantasmic!  This is the multifaceted show they put on twice a week!  It was fantastic!  I really don't have the right words to describe everything that happened... it was once in a lifetime!

Up Next... Animal Kingdom!

Wedding Wednesday: Open Doors

On our last trip to North Carolina, Patrick's small group threw us a dessert shower.  I had so much fun getting to know some of the members in his small group.

The delicious food... two kinds of cobbler and homemade ice cream!

The homemade ice cream was fantastic... can you tell?  One of the little guys really loved it!

We had a great time visiting with the families who were there... we played bocce ball and just hung out.  It was a great laid back time of fellowship!

Each member of his small group signed this plate for us... it is so special!!!

Here we are with our generous hosts... the Childs have been such a special family to us!  We feel so blessed to know them.  We treasure their friendship!

Foodie Friday: Orange Poundcake

A few weeks ago Patrick got to go to the Auburn vs Clemson game with some friends.  I wanted to make sure I made him a very spirited dessert to take to the tailgate.

Patrick and Anna, our sweet flower girl

Getting ready for the game...

I decided to venture into unfamiliar territory... ORANGE.  I searched lots of different websites... I ended up combining a few recipes... it turned out very well... and very ORANGE!


Orange Velvet Pound Cake

1 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening (Crisco)
3 cups granulated sugar
7 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon yellow food coloring
1/2 teaspoon red food coloring1/4t salt
1 to 1.5 teaspoons orange extract (I used 1 but I think I will use 1.5 next time)
3 cups flour


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease your bundt pan (I recommend Pam for baking)


Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar.


Add eggs, one at a time, mixing between each egg.  Then add milk, food coloring, salt, and orange extract.  Mix well.


Mix flour in a little at the time until it is all mixed.


Bake at 325 degrees for an 1 hour and 25 minutes.

This cake is so good!  Patrick and I went back and forth about whether or not this cake was better than the chocolate pound cake...


I'm still not a big fan of ORANGE... but I am a fan of this cake... Go Dawgs!

Wedding Wednesday: Friends Forever

I am very blessed to have friends who I have known my entire life.  I cannot remember a time when I didn't know Aunt Robin or Miss Joy... and I have so many memories of Mrs. McClam and her family that I feel like I have known them forever.  These three wonderful ladies threw me a beautiful shower back in June.

It was a brunch shower too!  I love brunch food!  The food was wonderful, so many fantastic dishes to try!

I have had some interesting dinners at Aunt Robin's house over the years (she is not an Aunt by blood... but she and Uncle Allen will be my "family" forever).  She always gently pushed us to try new things when we were young.  She made shrimp and grits for my shower... a southern girl's favorite!

I had such a good time at the shower... many of my friends came... friends from childhood, high school, and UGA... it was a great group!

Cassie, Kirby, and Cherie... friends from UGA enjoying the delicious food!

Lauren, Erin, and my mom... I have known these two girls since they were born!

I got some FANTASTIC gifts... including this fancy Crock Pot... I can't wait to make some Foodie Friday Recipes in it!

My sweet friend Rebecca Ruth made us this cross-stitch sampler for our home.  It is so special!!  We can't wait to hang it!

If you have ever gotten any gifts wrapped at Bed Bath and Beyond you know what this is... they are not afraid to use a little tissue paper!

The guests each brought a favorite recipe and an item for our pantry... so fun... and so many yummy recipes!

My mom and the lovely hostesses!  Thank you so much!

My Bridesmaids and me... Love these sweet girls!

My mom with some old friends... they have all known me since I was a very little girl!   

I loved having friends from all seasons of life at this shower.  It was such a special gift!  I can't say it enough... I am so blessed!